By Charles Young, The Preston County News and Journal
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WV News) — Recently elected West Virginia Senate President Randy Smith is looking forward to a new era of cooperation and collaboration between the Legislature and the governor’s office.
Smith, a former coal miner and a Republican who has represented Tucker County since 2017, said the Senate, West Virginia House of Delegates and Gov.-elect Patrick Morrisey plan to work as a united team.
“We’re going to make a good effort to work together and meet on a regular basis,” he said. “I believe, going forward, we’re going to know what the governor is going to do, and the governor is going to know what we’re going to be doing.”
Taking over the role of Senate president from Sen. Craig Blair, R-Berkeley, Smith inherits a chamber almost entirely comprised of Republicans. There are now just two Democrats in the 34-member Senate, and just nine Democrats in the 100-member House.
